The Cleveland Indians are nowhere near being World Series favorites.
In fact, the team is picked to finish second or third in their own division depending where you look.
With that being said, let’s talk about placing some bets on the team in 2021.
VegasInsider.com has odds ranging from the World Series all the way down to the individual division battles.
So let’s start with the loftiest bet of all.
Steep World Series Odds
The book has the Indians listed with +3500, or 35/1, odds to win the 2021 World Series.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are the favorites at +350 and the Pittsburgh Pirates are in the basement at +15000.
The Indians have the same odds as the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, and Washington Nationals.
So this is in the true “so you’re telling me there’s a chance” range.
The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, Shane Bieber, will be our Opening Day starter. 😍 pic.twitter.com/OnsJW3JtNa
— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) March 12, 2021
This seems to be in line with other national rankings and projections so far before the start of the 2021 season.
The Indians are projected to be average and that means the season could go in either extreme way.
A trip to the playoffs may be no more surprising than the team bottoming out and starting a rebuild in 2022.
There are just so many questions on the roster and the hope is that potentials are reached and the front office looks wise for going with a younger core.
Pennant and Division Odds
Taking it one step back, the Indians come in at +1600, or 16/1, to win the American League pennant and reach the World Series.
The New York Yankees are first and, interestingly enough, the Chicago White Sox are second.
We have talked several times this month about how Baseball Prospectus’ PECOTA projections have the White Sox finishing behind the Indians in the division.
Clearly bettors and sportsbooks view the team differently than PECOTA.
As for the Central, the Indians show up third at +600.
The White Sox are first at -110 and the Minnesota Twins are second at +140.
Taking the Indians at +600 would not be the worst of bets.
The AL Central could end up being more of a three-team race than what the odds show.
#Indians 23yr old RHP Triston McKenzie w/ two strikeouts today vs the Angels. McKenzie was solid today allowing just one run over his three innings pitched.
– 3.0(IP) 3H 1R 1ER 1BB 2SO@T_eazy24 #Sticks #Future #CLESpring pic.twitter.com/LDQnFl1DTA
— Indians Prospective (@indiansPro) March 10, 2021
And if we go off PECOTA projections, then the Indians are the second team in the race.
What we do know is that the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals will not be a part of the competition, barring the truly unexpected.
Both teams have identical +4000 odds to win the Central in 2021.
So would you bet on the Indians in 2021?
A World Series bet may be lofty, but could be fun on a small scale.
Serious bettors may prefer to go after the +600 division odds that could pay in a big way.
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